February - 31 Questions about Books Meme
On to the second meme! Snagged from tinnny on October 3, 2016. There are some questions that I thought to be rather odd, but I managed to answer them all, even if my answer is a non-answer.
1. What was the last book you read?
The Heresy of Dr Dee by Phil Rickman.
2. What’s the worst book you ever read, and why?
I don’t know if I can narrow it down to just one, but the worst most recent would be Memoirs of a Polar Bear, by Yoko Tawada.
3. A book you found overhyped, and why.
Thirty Shades of Grey. I’d say it was the worst book I ever read, except I didn’t get past the first few pages. The writing is just awful.
4. Readers versus physical books is such a false dichotomy. Instead, tell me what other formants (phone apps, tumblr fiction, twitter haikus,) you read.
The only other places I read, other than books or ebooks, are on LJ or AO3.
5. Which genre(s) don’t you read? Why not?
I don’t read Romance or Mysteries. Romance because they’re often too saccharine and not very realistic. Mystery, basically because I don’t find them interesting.
6. If you read in more than one language, is there a difference between the experience of reading in your native language(s) and reading in other languages.
I don’t, but my mother does. I’ve had her translate some information, and, yes, it is a different experience.
7. If you’re not a native English speaker, how much do you read in your native language versus how much you read in English? How do you feel about that? // If you’re a native English speaker, go find a book in your second/third/etc language, or in translation, to add to your to-read list.
I only read in English.
8. The book you read when you’re stuck in bed sick.
I don’t like to read when I’m sick. I’m more inclined to just sleep.
9. Fiction or non-fiction or both? In what ratio? Where do you draw the line between the two?
I read both, and it’s pretty much 50/50. I’m not sure what’s meant by drawing a line between the two.
10. The book(s) you bought because the cover was pretty. and whether it was worth it.
I don’t buy books because of their cover.
11. The worst book hangover you’ve ever had.
I had to look up what this was. I suppose I had one after reading In the Fire of Spring, by Tom Tryon. It was the second book in the series, and he would die before finishing the third. Which was a real downer, knowing that I’d never know how things ended.
12. Do you have to finish one book before you start the next one, or do you read multiple books at the same time?
I’m usually reading two at a time, one fiction, one nonfiction. Every so often I’ll throw in a third, usually another novel.
13. The fictional character you want to believe you resemble and fictional character you actually resemble.
I don’t think I’ve ever run across a character who I thought I resembled.
14. The book that, in hindsight, really should have clued you into the fact that you’re (queer/in love/doomed to be an academic/etc.)
I’ve never read anything like that.
15. The book that you reread over and over again and get new things from it every time.
I rarely reread books; there just isn’t the time. But if I had to pick, it would be Usher’s Passing by Robert McCammon, but I don’t get anything new out of it, just enjoyment.
16. The book that you don’t reread for fear it won’t be the same anymore.
I suppose something from my childhood. I found and bought my two favorite books, and have reread one (Mio, My Son, by Astrid Lindgren.) Of course it’s not the same, but that was all right.
17. Preferred bookshelf organization scheme.
By subject, then by author, then by publishing date.
18. Do you theme your monthly/yearly/etc reading (eg. year of reading women?)
Not usually, though I am in a “monthly motif” challenge, but you only have to read one book from each month’s “motif.”
19. That book with a twist that felt like a blow to the chest. Tell me about it, but warn for spoilers if necessary.
The Boy Who Drew Monsters, by Keith Donohue.
Ever since he nearly drowned in the ocean three years earlier, ten-year-old Jack Peter Keenan has been deathly afraid to venture outdoors. Refusing to leave his home in a small coastal town in Maine, Jack Peter spends his time drawing monsters. When those drawings take on a life of their own, no one is safe from the terror they inspire. His mother, Holly, begins to hear strange sounds in the night coming from the ocean, and she seeks answers from the local Catholic priest and his Japanese housekeeper, who fill her head with stories of shipwrecks and ghosts. His father, Tim, wanders the beach, frantically searching for a strange apparition running wild in the dunes. And the boy's only friend, Nick, becomes helplessly entangled in the eerie power of the drawings. While those around Jack Peter are haunted by what they think they see, only he knows the truth behind the frightful occurrences as the outside world encroaches upon them all.
20. The coolest bookshop you’ve ever been to.
When I was a kid my parents used to take us to a used book store about half a mile from our house. “Al’s Bookstore,” boasted half a million books. Most were paperback, but you could spend hours going through all the sections.
21. The book you gave up on, and the reason why.
There have been several recently. All because they just don’t grab my interest.
22. The book you finished even though you hated it, and the reasons why.
I don’t do that. If I hate it, I stop reading.
23. The book you expected to hate, didn’t, and then got angry about not hating it.
Never had that reaction.
24. The book you got into because of the movie/TV series/etc, and the relative merits of each vision.
I think the last time I did that was when I read Jaws. Loved the movie, didn’t care for the book. The movie made you care for the characters, the book didn’t.
25. The only book care question that actually means anything; so you write in your books? If so, in pen or in pencil?
Nope, don’t write in books.
26. Do you read reviews of books? Before or after you read the books themselves? Why? Why not?
I usually will go back and read reviews if I start reading a book and it’s not grabbing me. Most of the time the reviews just enforce that reaction. But I often read reviews of books I’m thinking about reading.
27. The book you’re embarrassed to admit you’re read.
I don’t read books I think I’d be embarrassed to admit to reading.
28. The one where the fanfic was better than the original (and the relevant AO3 links, please.)
I don’t tend to read fanfic based on books. Either the book was good enough, or not good enough to read its fanfic.
29. Your vacation reading habits.
I’ll pick a few from my Kindle to read on the plane, and pack two or three regular books to read once I’m at my destination.
30. The book you read the blurb of, constructed a version of it in your mind, and were promptly disappointed by once you finally got around to actually reading it.
It’s All About Treo: Life, Love and War with the World’s Bravest Dog. I’ve read a couple of other books about men who become close to their canine partner or a stray in war. Most are pretty good, but this one just fell flat. I gave up after about twenty pages.
31. Bonus question: rec me something!
There are dozens I could mention, but I’m going to go with The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller.
1. What was the last book you read?
The Heresy of Dr Dee by Phil Rickman.
2. What’s the worst book you ever read, and why?
I don’t know if I can narrow it down to just one, but the worst most recent would be Memoirs of a Polar Bear, by Yoko Tawada.
3. A book you found overhyped, and why.
Thirty Shades of Grey. I’d say it was the worst book I ever read, except I didn’t get past the first few pages. The writing is just awful.
4. Readers versus physical books is such a false dichotomy. Instead, tell me what other formants (phone apps, tumblr fiction, twitter haikus,) you read.
The only other places I read, other than books or ebooks, are on LJ or AO3.
5. Which genre(s) don’t you read? Why not?
I don’t read Romance or Mysteries. Romance because they’re often too saccharine and not very realistic. Mystery, basically because I don’t find them interesting.
6. If you read in more than one language, is there a difference between the experience of reading in your native language(s) and reading in other languages.
I don’t, but my mother does. I’ve had her translate some information, and, yes, it is a different experience.
7. If you’re not a native English speaker, how much do you read in your native language versus how much you read in English? How do you feel about that? // If you’re a native English speaker, go find a book in your second/third/etc language, or in translation, to add to your to-read list.
I only read in English.
8. The book you read when you’re stuck in bed sick.
I don’t like to read when I’m sick. I’m more inclined to just sleep.
9. Fiction or non-fiction or both? In what ratio? Where do you draw the line between the two?
I read both, and it’s pretty much 50/50. I’m not sure what’s meant by drawing a line between the two.
10. The book(s) you bought because the cover was pretty. and whether it was worth it.
I don’t buy books because of their cover.
11. The worst book hangover you’ve ever had.
I had to look up what this was. I suppose I had one after reading In the Fire of Spring, by Tom Tryon. It was the second book in the series, and he would die before finishing the third. Which was a real downer, knowing that I’d never know how things ended.
12. Do you have to finish one book before you start the next one, or do you read multiple books at the same time?
I’m usually reading two at a time, one fiction, one nonfiction. Every so often I’ll throw in a third, usually another novel.
13. The fictional character you want to believe you resemble and fictional character you actually resemble.
I don’t think I’ve ever run across a character who I thought I resembled.
14. The book that, in hindsight, really should have clued you into the fact that you’re (queer/in love/doomed to be an academic/etc.)
I’ve never read anything like that.
15. The book that you reread over and over again and get new things from it every time.
I rarely reread books; there just isn’t the time. But if I had to pick, it would be Usher’s Passing by Robert McCammon, but I don’t get anything new out of it, just enjoyment.
16. The book that you don’t reread for fear it won’t be the same anymore.
I suppose something from my childhood. I found and bought my two favorite books, and have reread one (Mio, My Son, by Astrid Lindgren.) Of course it’s not the same, but that was all right.
17. Preferred bookshelf organization scheme.
By subject, then by author, then by publishing date.
18. Do you theme your monthly/yearly/etc reading (eg. year of reading women?)
Not usually, though I am in a “monthly motif” challenge, but you only have to read one book from each month’s “motif.”
19. That book with a twist that felt like a blow to the chest. Tell me about it, but warn for spoilers if necessary.
The Boy Who Drew Monsters, by Keith Donohue.
Ever since he nearly drowned in the ocean three years earlier, ten-year-old Jack Peter Keenan has been deathly afraid to venture outdoors. Refusing to leave his home in a small coastal town in Maine, Jack Peter spends his time drawing monsters. When those drawings take on a life of their own, no one is safe from the terror they inspire. His mother, Holly, begins to hear strange sounds in the night coming from the ocean, and she seeks answers from the local Catholic priest and his Japanese housekeeper, who fill her head with stories of shipwrecks and ghosts. His father, Tim, wanders the beach, frantically searching for a strange apparition running wild in the dunes. And the boy's only friend, Nick, becomes helplessly entangled in the eerie power of the drawings. While those around Jack Peter are haunted by what they think they see, only he knows the truth behind the frightful occurrences as the outside world encroaches upon them all.
20. The coolest bookshop you’ve ever been to.
When I was a kid my parents used to take us to a used book store about half a mile from our house. “Al’s Bookstore,” boasted half a million books. Most were paperback, but you could spend hours going through all the sections.
21. The book you gave up on, and the reason why.
There have been several recently. All because they just don’t grab my interest.
22. The book you finished even though you hated it, and the reasons why.
I don’t do that. If I hate it, I stop reading.
23. The book you expected to hate, didn’t, and then got angry about not hating it.
Never had that reaction.
24. The book you got into because of the movie/TV series/etc, and the relative merits of each vision.
I think the last time I did that was when I read Jaws. Loved the movie, didn’t care for the book. The movie made you care for the characters, the book didn’t.
25. The only book care question that actually means anything; so you write in your books? If so, in pen or in pencil?
Nope, don’t write in books.
26. Do you read reviews of books? Before or after you read the books themselves? Why? Why not?
I usually will go back and read reviews if I start reading a book and it’s not grabbing me. Most of the time the reviews just enforce that reaction. But I often read reviews of books I’m thinking about reading.
27. The book you’re embarrassed to admit you’re read.
I don’t read books I think I’d be embarrassed to admit to reading.
28. The one where the fanfic was better than the original (and the relevant AO3 links, please.)
I don’t tend to read fanfic based on books. Either the book was good enough, or not good enough to read its fanfic.
29. Your vacation reading habits.
I’ll pick a few from my Kindle to read on the plane, and pack two or three regular books to read once I’m at my destination.
30. The book you read the blurb of, constructed a version of it in your mind, and were promptly disappointed by once you finally got around to actually reading it.
It’s All About Treo: Life, Love and War with the World’s Bravest Dog. I’ve read a couple of other books about men who become close to their canine partner or a stray in war. Most are pretty good, but this one just fell flat. I gave up after about twenty pages.
31. Bonus question: rec me something!
There are dozens I could mention, but I’m going to go with The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller.